World Trade Month: Why Trade Matters

Exports are responsible for about 33 percent of U.S. corn farmers’ income, according to National Corn Growers Association. More than 20 percent of the U.S. corn crop is exported annually when accounting for corn and value-added products, like ethanol and distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS). And, nearly 26 percent of U.S. corn exports go to Canada and Mexico alone.

In addition to new trade agreements, the daily, on-the-ground work of promoting U.S. agricultural products, fighting non-tariff trade barriers, and building global demand is critical to making trade work and keeping U.S. farmers competitive. USDA’s Market Access Program (MAP) and Foreign Market Development Program (FMD) assist farmers to expand key markets and build new export market demand.